Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1887-08-12
Shall Oue Agricultural Fairs Educate
the People Up, or Down.


CLIO " Soholuci. ABIlCulbuIdl LhiIs die
the outgrowth of the desire among them
to securs the very best results possible
from their labors; not only for them
selves in the way of economizing time
and strength, and for profit, but for the
general improvement of the country at
large, and the advancement of its inter-
ests. They expect to gain knowledge
of Improvements in machinery at the
state and county fair. Here is the place
to display their triumphs of the year in
their own fields. and witness the results
of their neighbors' successes in their
fields. 1t is the fitting ground where a
healthy emulation exists among those
who are the bone and sinew of the land,
as well as its actual rulers, constituting
nearly four fifths OF its voting popula-
ton. So long as these fairs carry out
their original plan, they are of immense
benefit to the country. They are a
meeting place Scr men who are full of
care and toll during the year. The in
terchange of ideas. and the friendly in
tercourse indulged in, are an inspira
tion to minds that would otherwise grow
rusty, and give a new impetus to efforts
for further successes. The influence of
these gatherings can hardly be overesti-
mated. To men, women and children,
the fair, and what was seen and heard
there, furnishes food for thought, and a
topic of conversation for months. How
necessary, then, that the standard of
influences at these places should be of
the highest order, and that oil the ac-
tion of the management should be for
the advancement Of the best interests of
those whom the fair was intended to
profit. What care should be taken that
everything tending to the health, COM
fort and happiness of the people should
be provided in abundance; and all
things that injure health, impair COM
fort and destroy happiness should be
vigorously excluded. What generous
encouragement in the way of prize
money should be given for everything
that will add to the useful knowledge
the people have come here to gain.
What stringent laws for the protection
of the people at these annual holiday
gatherings should be enacted by the
state, and enforced by the management
against everything that will mar tie
pleasure and the usefulness of the occa-
sion.
How perfect should all the environ
ments be, that all the people might go
home with minds refreshed with new
deas and useful knowledge, and hearts
filed with pleasant remembrances of
the social delights of the day.
This is what an agricultural fair
should always be able to give to tie
masses who congregate there, us origi-
nally planned. This is what they do in
some localities. But unfortunately in
many cases this plan is not carried out,
and the state and county fair has degen.
Grated into a place where disorder too
often reigns; where but little attention
is paid to the best interests of the peo-
pie; where they are surrounded by in
huences that are only demoralizing;
where large purses are given to encour-
age horse racing and its attendant gam
bling, with all the evils that follow 1t,
and paltry sums are doled out for the
finest products of the field and garden,
and barnyard.
Small provision is made for the health
and comfort of visitors in the way of
supplies of pure drinking water, but
their health and happiness are threat
ened by allowing the sale of intoxicat.
ing liquors for the assuaging of thirst.
All sorts of gambling devices are often
allowed by which unwary ones are
ieeced of their hard earnings, and
youths who are needed as honest work
rs in the land, acquire distaste for the
steady life of the farmer. and learn to
be dishonest in the acquisition of m money.
Where is the profit, either to man or
county, in such gatherings as these?
What comfort is there to a man or
woman going where their sturdy labor
Is cheapened before that which only
gives momentary. unhealthy excite
ment, and engenders strife and discurd
and dishonesty as horse racing does?
What does it add to the enjoyment of a
father or mother who goes to the fair,
and goes home with q son who has
learned such lessons during the day as
will cause him to drift away from the
farm into dissipation and vice? 1t is
appalling to consider how many drunk
ards are made by the beer stands that
are upon fair grounds, or surrounding
them. Where is the hope Of healthy
hearty rural population to correct the
viciousness and disease of the cities,
when the youth of the rural districts
are being thus debauched? These evils
attendant upon fairs destroy all the good
they might otherwise accomplish. They
are positive injury to community
instead of being a blessing, and are not
worthy of the patronage Of the best ele'
ments of society. 1t is disgrace tc
the management Of fair, when an ex
ira police force must be detailed to con
troll the drunken and disorderly ele
ments OF the day. All the arrange
ments should be such that a policeman
would be an unnecessary appendage
The managers of fairs have admitted